A portable navigation device and a method for operating such device

A portable navigation device (20, 42) comprises an on-board powering facility, a map data receiving port, a logic board (30) that contains one or more map data storage semiconductor chips (32) as well as data processing facilities (34) , a GPS unit (36), and output means (35, 40) for outputting user information. All these elements are operatively connected within a housing assembly (20, 42). In particular, the device comprises selection means for selectively downloading geographically limited map data when in an information exchange situation viz à viz a map data information source under control of inputting geographically specifying information by a user, whilst substantially blocking other map data. Furthermore the device allows to store route data that are associated to the geographically limited map data for therefrom deriving user information.